The inhabitants of Utopia prized gold and silver less than they prized iron; without iron, fire and water life would be impossible. The same cannot be said of gold and silver which are only valuable in relation to their rarity, a concept invented by human folly”. So wrote Thomas More who, ironically, was condamned to death on the pretext of corruption, a silver chalice having been discovered among
his household objects. We belong to a long line of silversmiths and share the Socratic indifference shown by the inhabitants of Utopia towards precious metals. Born and brought up in the house above the workshop with the constant influx of that metal, where it arrives coarse and unrefined, to emerge transformed into the most extraordinary array of objects since our grandfather founded the factory over 100 years ago.
“Handmade” is an outdated concept for us that often means difficulty and repetition. We developed a respect for the machines that aided our labour. The machines are poetic instruments; like poetry, they help us create but do not cause fatigue. In fact we find nothing poetic in the recurrent praise of the “handmade”, and believe that it’s a subtle bait for cynical salesmen and clients who really only appreciate if a piece is made by expensive European hands rather than inexpensive hands of the third world. In our factory many processes remain manual because they achieve impressive results, but not to praise the process it self of “handmade”. Silver has to be deemed more than precious if it is to stir the imagination of a public sympathetic to Utopian philosophy. We had to explore other ways of exciting interest in silver and of arousing the desire to possess it, that’s why our workplace canteen becomes a restaurant during the night. The lunch room still has green tiles on the wall and humble flooring. On the ceiling is a hammer and sickle, outlined in lights. More light comes from wall sconces and candelabras on the tables. These elements recall the French and Soviet imperial styles. The large work tables are set with “Due Sicilie” cutlery. Noble and sacred heads created by artists hang with hunting trophies on the wall. Silverworkers-waiters in military dress, or in work overalls with white gloves, transform into imperial workers. A few special silver objects are enough to tranform this simple environment into an extraordinary place. Silver can connect the old and the new, as could a masquerade ball without any sense of nostalgia.
